Charlie Hills Bidding For More Greenlands Glory With Iberian

Iberian will bid to supply fitness instructor Charlie Hills with back-to-back triumphes in the Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.


The Lambourn handler declared the Group Two prize with 12 months ago and will have high hopes of adding to his tally with a horse who was last seen going down a neck to Spycatcher in the Cammidge Trophy on the opening day of the season at Doncaster.


With Hills keen to stick at 6 furlongs, Iberian had the alternative of performing at York in Wednesday's 1895 Duke of York Stakes, but he is rather being prepared for a trip across the Irish Sea.


"He's effectively, we're really pleased with him. We decided to bypass York and we're going for the Greenlands rather," said Hills.


"The track ought to match him well and if he runs well there then it could be good timing to then go to the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.


"I was truly pleased with his Doncaster run, he was most likely a bit unlucky with the way he dived across the track and seemed to lose his concentration for a little bit.


Iberian winning the Betfred Champagne Stakes (Tim Goode/PA)


"He hit the line strong however, so we'll put that behind us now and look forward to the rest of the season."


Another Hills prisoner who began his season on a good note is Cicero's Gift, with the five-year-old completing third in a competitive renewal of the Group Two bet365 Mile at Sandown.


However, current plans are on hold for the kid of Muhaarar, who chooses simple ground underfoot.


"We have actually just got to wait until it begins to rain. It's actually tough to make strategies with him at the minute, it's been so dry," Hills added.


"We'll keep our choices open through the year however he's constantly been at his best when he can enter the ground, so we'll just have to be client and wait on the rain."